EAGLE RIVER - Life as a division one athlete isn't always glamorous. Getting to that level can be down-right demanding.Just ask future Badger Austin Ramesh.Ramesh excelled for Northland Pines in football and hockey. Now he's getting ready to train with some of the bigger boys.Ramesh had his final workout in Eagle River this afternoon.He's leaving for Madison on Friday.
Ramesh has been working out with Rhinelander native Matt Huebner for the last 3 months. His football career included a stint of indoor pro ball. He also owns Next Level Nutrition.com.Ramesh will have summer training with the Badgers. He says the reality is hitting both himself and his family."I've been trying to prepare for it mentally as much as I can," says Ramesh. "But, I'm sure when I get (to Madison) it will be set in stone the way it will be the next four or five years. I've been pretty nervous a couple of months back. I guess you could say it's more excitement now. My mom is getting pretty emotional now, that's to be expected. But they're happy."Huebner spent one season the Green Bay Blizzard indoor football team. He adds, "the closer he (Austin) gets to coming to the goal, the harder he's working. You can't measure his heart. It's getting bigger and bigger."Austin will not officially join the team until the spring of 2014. That was a condition of his scholarship."He's tasting success," says Huebner. "He's getting a feel for it. I think he's ready to explode when he gets on the scene."